Introduction
As technology grows, so does the production of synthetic materials. While their efficiency is without question, their effect on the environment is. In some cases the production of these materials are the cause for pollution, and while some are reusable, others are swiftly thrown away as they are no longer needed. Living walls having been around for a while but they have yet to reach the popularity of other design strategies. This project seeks to shine light on the usefulness of living walls and how they can be applied to architecture in order to create a greater level of comfort in and around large structures.
Design Proposal
This project seeks to study the affect that living walls have on buildings located in hot and humid climates. We will simulate the conditions of a hot and humid climate and begin to look at how the living wall begins to affect the climate around a building and the thermal comfort inside the building.
- The project will consist of two boxes, one will simulate the conditions of a hot and humid climate and the other will mimic the conditions of the interior of a building.
- We will test different wall materials and plant life and look at how well the wall affects building energy performance by looking at how the wall handles changes in temperature, humidity, and heat fluxes near and within the living wall system.
- The project will consist of two boxes, one will simulate the conditions of a hot and humid climate and the other will mimic the conditions of the interior of a building.
- We will test different wall materials and plant life and look at how well the wall affects building energy performance by looking at how the wall handles changes in temperature, humidity, and heat fluxes near and within the living wall system.
Research Question
What type of green wall works best in reducing a buildings energy output?
- All green walls perform in the same way in that they help to reduce air pollution, lower surface temperatures, and help to dehumidify the air, but we will be looking at specific types of green walls (material of wall and plant life) and see how well they perform in the conditions of a hot and humid climate.
- All green walls perform in the same way in that they help to reduce air pollution, lower surface temperatures, and help to dehumidify the air, but we will be looking at specific types of green walls (material of wall and plant life) and see how well they perform in the conditions of a hot and humid climate.
Materials
The materials needed for this project includes: Plywood, , insulation foam, sod sheet, acrylic, sod sheet, and concrete.
Budget
Plywood - $20
Insulation Foam - $20
Concrete - $10
Wheat grass Seeds - $10
Hemp Mats - $17
Germination Trays - $25
Total = $102
Insulation Foam - $20
Concrete - $10
Wheat grass Seeds - $10
Hemp Mats - $17
Germination Trays - $25
Total = $102
Goal
Our goal for this project is to gain a better understanding on how living walls can enhance the energy performance of buildings.